CII Conference Highlights Punjab’s Emergence as North India’s Technology, GCC and Innovation Hub
Chandigarh : “Punjab is positioning itself as North India’s preferred destination for technology investments, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), innovation centres, AI labs and digital enterprises, with Mohali emerging as a key technology hub,” said Shri Aman Arora, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, and New & Renewable Energy Sources, Government of Punjab, while addressing the 3rd Edition of CII Conference on IT Frontiers in Chandigarh.
He said, “Punjab offers global enterprises a strong talent pool, competitive operating costs, quality infrastructure and an enabling business environment. Through Invest Punjab and our IT, ITeS, Data Centre and GCC Policy 2026, we are committed to facilitating investments and enabling the growth of GCCs in the State. I invite industry leaders and investors to explore the opportunities Punjab offers,” he added.
Sharing Punjab’s investment proposition, Mr Amit Dhaka, CEO – Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion, Government of Punjab, highlighted Punjab’s vision to become North India’s preferred destination for technology investments noting that the State has 32 universities, 190 engineering colleges, over 350 ITIs and more than 1,000 skill centres. The Tricity region has approximately 1.2 lakh IT and technology professionals.
He further highlighted, “Mohali combines Tier-1 capabilities with Tier-2 economics, with more than 150 IT units and over ₹7,500 crore invested in IT and ESDM sectors. Through Invest Punjab’s single-window system, dedicated investor support and time-bound digital approvals, we are committed to making it easier for businesses to establish and scale in the State.”
Maj Gen Vikram Jeet Singh Varaiach, Chief Signal Officer, Western Command highlighted the growing opportunities for Indian industry, particularly MSMEs, in the defence sector. He expressed that the future military strategies will be shaped by the seamless integration of secure communications, networks, data and artificial intelligence. There are multiple avenues for Indian companies, including MSMEs, to enter the defence ecosystem through initiatives such as iDEX and ADITI, he added.
Mr Ashish Garg, Vice Chairman, CII Punjab and Managing Director, Happy Forgings Limited, emphasised that AI, automation and Industry 4.0 technologies can help enterprises improve productivity, quality and efficiency while becoming more competitive in global markets. At the same time, it should be ensured that the workforce is equipped with the skills required for this transformation.
Mr Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Conference Chairman and Managing Director, Finvasia India Pvt Ltd expressed, “The convergence of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship presents a significant opportunity for Punjab. Conferences such as this provide an important platform for government and industry to exchange ideas, identify opportunities and move from vision to execution.”
Highlighting the intersection of Punjab’s manufacturing heritage and new-age technology, Mr Vibhu Kapoor, Regional VP, Middle East, Africa & India, Epicor highlighted the opportunity to connect Punjab’s manufacturing strengths with new-age technologies. “While everyone is talking about Industry 4.0, we are now looking at Punjab 3.0 —connecting Punjab’s manufacturing heritage with digital intelligence.”
The conference brought together more than 120 delegates from IT, technology, manufacturing, startup, MSME and government sectors to discuss opportunities in AI, digital transformation, technology-led growth and investment in Punjab.
